Jewelry designers create design concepts and manage the prototype and model-making process. They may work for jewelry stores, appraisal firms, auction houses, pawnbrokers, or insurance companies. They determine value by researching the jewelry market and by using reference books, auction catalogs, price lists, and the Internet. Jewelry appraisers carefully examine jewelry to determine its value and then write appraisal documents. Most gemologists have completed the Graduate Gemologist program through the Gemological Institute of America.
After using microscopes, computerized tools, and other grading instruments to examine gemstones or finished pieces of jewelry, they write reports certifying that the items are of a particular quality. Gemologists analyze, describe, and certify the quality and characteristics of gemstones. Some specialize in particular tasks such as repairs, hand engraving, stringing, wax carving/model making, enameling, stone cutting, soldering, stone setting, and hand building.
They usually do tasks ranging from simple jewelry cleaning and repair to making molds and pieces from scratch.
The following are examples of types of jewelers and precious stone and metal workers:īench jewelers, also known as metalsmiths, silversmiths, goldsmiths, and platinumsmiths, are the most common type of jewelers. They let the customer review the design on a computer and see the effect of changes, so that the customer is satisfied before committing to the expense of a customized piece of jewelry.
Some jewelers also use CAD software to design custom jewelry. With CAM, they can then create a mold of the piece, which makes producing many copies easy. With CAD, jewelers can create a model of a piece of jewelry on a computer and then view the effect of changing different aspects-for example, the design, the stone, or the setting-before cutting a stone or taking other costly steps. Some manufacturing firms use computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) to make product design easier and to automate some steps. Jewelers also use lasers to weld metals together without seams or blemishes, improving the quality and appearance of jewelry. For example, lasers are often used for cutting and improving the quality of stones, for intricate engraving or design work, and for inscribing personal messages on jewelry. Technology is helping to produce high-quality jewelry at a reduced cost and in less time than traditional methods allow. Solder pieces together and insert stones.Shape metal to hold the gems in pieces of jewelry.
Model new pieces with carved wax or computer-aided design, and then cast them in metal.Compute the costs of labor and material for new pieces and repairs.Smooth joints and rough spots and polish smoothed areas.Repair jewelry by replacing broken clasps, altering ring sizes, or resetting stones.Clean and polish jewelry using polishing wheels and chemical baths.Examine and grade diamonds and other gems.Design and create jewelry from precious metals and stones.Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers typically do the following: Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers design, construct, adjust, repair, appraise and sell jewelry.